Cool Tool

Went to the hardware store to get a rain gauge, and lookie what I found! 

 

A lighted tweezers!  How cool is that?  :)

Skunked!

That would be the dog - not DS2. 

Doesn't she look pitiful? 

She didn't particularly like her bath in hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and soap.  It took two of us to keep her in the tub, get her scrubbed and rinsed, and get her back out of the tub.  We knew she'd shake off so we wrapped her in a big towel and Adam took her outside.  She STILL nailed us both! 

I wonder how long it will be before the residual smell in the house will dissappate? 

Can't possibly be soon enough!  :)

Garden Goodness

Took this platter of garden goodies to work today.  They are (clockwise from the top) green peppers, blaze orange peppers, zuchinni, blushing beauty peppers, in the middle sweet banana peppers, and of course cherry tomatoes.   Too bad I didn't grow fresh parsley to garnish the plate.

Still to come in are purple peppers and red peppers.  Cool nights have slowed growth and ripening way down, but its nice to have a break from cooking and freezing stuff.  Was beginning to suffer from garden burn out.

Later this season I'll have Mr. Stripey heirloom tomatoes.  They should have red and yellow vertical stripes.  I have several few on the vine now, but they're still green.  Can't wait to see how they look.  Pictures WILL follow! :)

Pot Holder Finish

Hooray!  I got these done on time. 

Now into the mail with them!

Quilting Again

Finally had the time to do some quilting again - hooray! 

This spring and summer left little time to submerge myself in quilting - but that's what I did tonight, and will do much of the day tomorrow.  It helps that I need to complete these soon-to-be pot holders on a deadline.  This is the Moda fabric designed for the Wisconsin Shop Hop that took place earlier this summer.

All four pot holders will be donated to fundraiser baskets for a professional organization.  The top two will go into a Minnesota-themed gift basket, the bottom two in a Wisconsin-themed basket.  I figure Minnesotans love their deer, lakes and loons as much as any Wisconsinite, right? 

Just don't tell Moda!  :)

First Purple Pepper

Its been a long wait, but my first purple pepper is ripening.  It started out a light green, then got purple flecks, and after a few more days it turned all purple. 

Now to figure out when to pick it? :)

Jeans Quilt Tied and Trimmed!

This denim behemoth has been hanging over my head all summer.  And here it is - tied, trimmed and just begging to be bound (wait a minute, that didn't sound right).

At any rate, I'm nearly done.  Hooray!

Inspiration - Wisconsin Style

I got this Moda Wisconsin fabric in the mail today. It features our state flower, tree, coin, fish, light houses, lakes, trails and wildlife.  It can also be purchased with a caramel border. 

I got it from Antoinette's Quilt Shop (www.antoinettesquiltshop.com).

I'll be making pot holders for raffle baskets - one basket to represent Wisconsin and one to represent Minnesota.  The loon on a lake would be very fitting for our neighbors in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.  However, I can't start on this project until I finish the jeans quilt that has been on hold for just about forever.

Upon receiving the Wisconsin fabric, I got this quilt basted in short order.  I just needed the proper motivator!  Since I took this picture, I've tied off 2 1/2 rows.  I hope to do 1-2 rows a night - until all 12 rows are finished.  Then I can bind it and give it to the graduate when he comes to town for school next month.

Ah - progress feels good! :)

Baby Bunny

My bunny friend was back this morning, and today the gate was closed. 

Doesn't he look nice and cozy?

Lo and behold, 'tis a little one who can slip right through my fence!  He must be young enough that he isn't yet afraid of people.   I got very close before he scampered off.  

On this visit he managed to have a nice zuchinni for breakfast.

So I scampered off the Home Depot for some fine gauge chicken wire! :)

July 4th 2012

Happy 4th of July!!!